Chapter 55: Matchmaking

"Oh? Who?"

"An older cousin from my maiden family, she's thirty-three this year. She's very pretty, but because she couldn't bear children, she was sent back to her maiden home by her husband's family. She's in Qin Family Village right now."

"Can't bear children?" Lao Jia frowned. If He Daqing wanted to remarry, there was no guarantee he wouldn't have the urge to have more children.

"Let's ask Brother He for his thoughts first."

"That works."

In the evening, at He Daqing's house in the Middle Courtyard.

"Brother, you mean you want to introduce a wife to me?"

"That's right. She's from Huairu's extended family. She's quite pretty and thirty-three this year, but it seems she can't have children."

"Can I meet her first?" Once He Daqing heard she was a beauty, everything else was cast to the back of his mind.

"..." It seems He Daqing has truly been parched these past few years; it's no wonder that in the original story, he would abandon his son and daughter to run off with the White Widow.

"Alright, I'll have Huairu go home and talk about it."

Upon returning home, Lao Jia told Qin Huairu about the matter.

"Good, I'll go back tomorrow and talk to my older cousin."

This older cousin from her maiden family had been very kind to her when she was young. If she could marry He Daqing, it would be better than enduring the cold glares of her younger brothers and sisters-in-law at her maiden home.

The next day, Jia Dongxu pedaled the tricycle and took Qin Huairu back to Qin Family Village. Qin Huairu first went home to tell her father and mother about the matter.

"If it can work out, it's a good thing. Pandi won't have to be squeezed out by her younger brothers and sisters-in-law anymore."

In fact, this is a common phenomenon. After all, the old saying goes that a married daughter is like spilled water, let alone one who was sent back by her husband's family.

"Huairu, Dongxu, you two wait at home. Let your mother go talk to your grand-uncle; it's not appropriate for you juniors to go."

"Alright."

Qin Huairu's mother, Zhang Lan, did not hesitate and went straight to Qin Pandi's house.

"Dahu's wife, you can't just say things like this lightly."

Qin Pandi's father couldn't believe it. His daughter couldn't conceive, yet there was someone willing to have her? In this day and age, who doesn't value carrying on the family line above all else?

"It's true, Uncle. He's from the same courtyard as Huairu, though he does have two children at home."

"As long as he's an honest man who can live a proper life, that's fine."

Although the old man felt sorry for his daughter, his own daughters-in-law were not easy to deal with. He could suppress them for a while, but not for a lifetime.

Moreover, his daughters-in-law were already quite dissatisfied, and all the big and small matters in the house were being handled by his daughter.

"He's a good person, and he's a chef with excellent skills."

"Alright, if this works out, I must thank granddaughter Huairu properly."

"Uncle, look at what you're saying. That's settled then. Tomorrow, have Pandi tidy up and go to the city. I'll have Huairu meet her at the station."

"Fine, fine, fine."

Qin Pandi, who was out cutting pig grass, was stopped by her old father as soon as she returned home.

"Pandi..." Old Man Qin explained the situation.

"Dad, are you serious?"

"That girl Huairu brought it up, so it shouldn't be fake. Didn't she like to play behind you when she was little? Tidy yourself up well tonight."

"Mm."

Qin Pandi didn't want to miss this opportunity. Not only was she suffering cold glares at home, but her parents were also facing criticism in the village, and on top of that, the man's conditions were quite good.

When Jia Dongxu and his wife returned to the Siheyuan, they saw He Daqing waiting at the entrance.

"Uncle He, my older cousin will be coming tomorrow. Let's pick a place to meet."

"Good, good, good. Then let's go to Hongbin Restaurant, and let Zhuzi see her too."

He Daqing had already told Shazhu yesterday that he wanted to get him a stepmother to take care of Yushui. Having followed Zhang Ping'an for over a year, plus working in the back kitchen, Shazhu had become a bit more worldly.

"Dad, I don't object, as long as she can be good to Yushui."

"Rest assured, she's from your sister-in-law Huairu's maiden family. Her character won't be bad, and besides, she can't have children."

"Dad, then you still..."

"Silly boy, having you and Yushui is enough." Hearing this, Shazhu was instantly moved beyond words.

The next day at nine in the morning, Qin Huairu rode her Bicycle to the station to wait for her older cousin Qin Pandi, while He Daqing took Yushui to Hongbin Restaurant.

"Yushui, be polite when you see the auntie later."

"Dad, are you looking for a stepmother for Yushui?"

"..." He Daqing hadn't expected this little girl to be so smart, so he simply didn't hide it anymore.

"You could say that, if she's willing to be good to Yushui."

"Mm."

Yushui didn't resist. She had no memory of her own mother, and seeing other children with mothers while she had none—it would be a lie to say she wasn't sad.

"Older cousin, over here!" Qin Huairu spotted Qin Pandi in the crowd at a glance.

"Huairu."

"Mm, let's go to Hongbin Restaurant first. Uncle He and the child are already waiting there."

"Mm, okay."

"Huairu, I..."

"Older cousin, don't be nervous. You're so pretty, Uncle He will definitely like you. Uncle He's daughter is five this year and hasn't seen her own mother since she was little; she's at the age where she really needs a mother."

"Uncle He's son is also a chef, and he doesn't object either, so you can rest easy."

"Okay."

Anything else might be false, but Qin Pandi was indeed beautiful, and at her age, she had no children—heaven knows how much she longed for a child.

He Daqing sat by the window with Yushui and saw Qin Huairu approaching with a charming young woman at a glance.

"Yushui, stay here and don't go anywhere, your sister-in-law Huairu is coming over."

"Mm, okay."

He Daqing first went to the counter to arrange for the waiter to serve the dishes, then went out to greet them.

"Huairu, this must be sister Pandi, right?"

"Yes, Uncle He, this is my aunt Qin Pandi. Aunt, this is Uncle He Daqing."

"Hello, Brother He," Qin Pandi said, feeling slightly shy under He Daqing's burning gaze.

"Good, good, good, yes, come in and sit."

He Daqing was not yet forty years old and had a bit of a "puffy Daniel Wu" vibe; he was dressed neatly today, though his large eye bags somewhat ruined his image.

Yushui was sitting in her seat, looking at Qin Pandi with curiosity. She knew Qin Huairu, so this beautiful stranger must be her future stepmother, right? Yushui suddenly felt that her father was a bit unworthy of this beautiful sister.

Yushui hopped off her stool and ran over with a "clatter, clatter, clatter."

"Sister-in-law, is she my mother?"

"..."

He Daqing secretly gave his daughter a thumbs-up; this assist was very timely.

"Aunt, this is Uncle He's daughter, He Yushui."

"Hello, Yushui."

"Mother, hello."

Qin Pandi smiled awkwardly, not expecting this little girl to be so outgoing.

"Hahaha, Daqing, it seems Yushui and your future wife get along very well," Shazhu's master, Chen Jianye, appeared from out of nowhere.

"Senior Brother."

He Daqing introduced both sides to each other, and after exchanging greetings, they were considered acquainted; Yushui, however, stayed by Qin Pandi's side and never left.

"You all chat first, if the food isn't enough, just say so. I'll have Zhuzi come out to join you all as well."

"Alright, sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother."

Chen Jianye waved his hand and left, and before long, Zhuzi also came out in casual clothes.

"Dad, sister-in-law."

"Aunt, this is Uncle He's son, He Yuzhu. Zhuzi, this is my aunt Qin Pandi, and she is also..."

Shazhu had noticed this charming young woman from the start, thinking to himself that his old man had good fortune.

"Uh, hello, Auntie."

"Hello, Zhuzi."

"Everyone sit, everyone sit, let's eat first."

"Mother, eat this, this is delicious." Both father and daughter twitched their mouths upon hearing Yushui's address, feeling a bit guilty in their hearts; all these years, Yushui had never enjoyed a mother's love.

"Mm, thank you, Yushui." Just like that, the meal was finished in this cheerful yet strange atmosphere.

"Dad, Auntie, sister-in-law, I'm finished eating, I'll go back to the kitchen to get busy."

"Mm, okay."

"Uncle He, I'll take Yushui back. You and Aunt, you..."

"Alright, sorry to trouble you, Huairu."

"It's nothing."